UK Funeral Statistics 2025
Unfortunately, the average cost of a funeral has significantly increased year-on-year for the past two decades.
For this reason, it is important to assess the statistics surrounding funerals across the UK.
If you are planning your own funeral or a loved one’s funeral and are worried about the rising costs, then it is important not to panic or get worried.
There are now lots of different options when it comes to the types of funerals that you can opt for, all with different price points for different budgets.
Some of the statistics below highlight the recent rise in the cost of a funeral, which have been increasing year on year and have had a range of knock-on effects including mental health issues as a result of the stress.
Funeral Statistics [1,2,3]
- The average cost of a UK funeral currently sits at £9,797. This is a staggering amount.
- The average cost of a UK funeral has increased by 4% between 2024 and 2023, which is a significant increase in just one year [1].
- The average cost of a UK unattended funeral (also known as a direct cremation) is £1,597, which is significantly lower than the cost of an attended funeral.
- The cost of an unattended funeral (a direct cremation) has increased by 7% year on year for the past few years.
- There has been a 137% increase in the average cost of a UK funeral over the past 20 years.
- The cost of a direct burial sits at £4,285 which is a 5% increase since 2023, where the average cost was £4,141.
- 78% of all deaths in the UK resulted in a cremation between 2023 and 2024 [2].
- The most popular place to hold a funeral is a crematorium. The second most popular place to hold a funeral is a church, with 20% of all people surveyed opting for a church over anything else [3].
- 75% of all individuals surveyed said that they would like to be cremated [3].
Costs of Funeral depending on Location [1,2]
- The cost of a funeral also depends on where you are based in the country, with a 58% difference in the cost between the most expensive place in the UK compared to the least expensive place to hold a funeral in the UK.
- Northern Ireland remains the most affordable place in the UK to hold a funeral.
- The cost of a funeral in Northern Ireland sits at £3,441.
- London remains the most expensive place across the UK to hold a funeral, with the average cost sitting at £5,449.
- The Northwest of England found the greatest year-on-year increase, with a whopping 13% over recent years.
The cost of added extras during funerals [1,2,3]
- The cost of added extras is becoming increasingly less popular when it comes to funerals, with only 4 in 10 (44%) people choosing to pay for added extras.
- 72% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for flowers.
- 54% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for order sheets.
- 44% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for a memorial, which is the most expensive funeral option that you can opt for.
- 42% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for catering.
- 41% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for a venue hire.
- 37% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for a death notice.
- 33% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for a limo hire.
- 30% of individuals who plan a funeral opt for a funeral notice.
- Most people opt for a non-religious funeral service, with 25% of all people surveyed saying that they wouldn’t want religion mentioned or alluded to at their funeral [3].
Impact on Mental Health Arranging a Funeral has [1,2]
- The impact that paying for a funeral has had on loved ones has worsened over recent years, with 3 in every 4 individuals planning a funeral admitting that doing so has had a negative impact on their mental health.
- In fact, 44% of individuals say that planning a funeral and the anxiety surrounding the cost has had a significant impact on their mental health.
- 31% of individuals say that planning a funeral has had a slight impact on their mental health.
- Just 24% of all individuals who plan a funeral in 2024 say that doing so has had no impact on their mental health whatsoever.
- 60% of all individuals admitted that planning a funeral had a negative impact on their physical health and wellbeing.
Statistics on Who Pays for Funerals [1,2]
- 68% of people plan and pay for their own funeral before they pass away
- However, only 56% of individuals who plan their own funeral put away enough money to cover the entire cost of their funeral plans.
- 18% of individuals who plan a funeral say that doing so has caused financial issues.
- Most people who have to cover the cost of a funeral have to work out on average £2,371 to cover the cost.
- 33% of individuals who pay for a funeral have to use their savings or other forms of investment to pay for the funeral itself.
- 24% of individuals who pay for a funeral have to use a credit card to pay for it.
- 23% of individuals who have to pay for a funeral have to borrow money from a family member or friend.
- 4,400 public health funerals were carried out by councils between 2022 and 2023.
- 62% of councils said that the most common reason for having to hold a public health funeral was due to the fact that family and friends could not afford to pay for their own private funeral.
- Councils across England spent almost £6 million on public health funerals between 2022 and 2023.
How to Save Money on Funeral Costs
- Most people are trying to save money when it comes to the cost of a funeral, with 58% of individuals organising a funeral cutting back on certain aspects of a funeral just so that they can afford it.
- 18% of individuals planning a funeral choose cheaper coffins.
- 17% of individuals planning a funeral choose to spend less money on flowers, compared to being willing to choose to pay more on things like flowers in recent years.
- Despite the rising costs, only 15% of individuals choose to have a home wake.
- Likewise, only 12% of individuals who plan a funeral look and shop around for the best deals.
- 4% of all individuals planning a funeral ask the funeral director to hire less poll bearers on the day.
Government Help with the Cost of a Funeral
The UK Government offers some financial help to contribute towards funeral costs.
This is via a scheme called the Funeral Expenses Payment and has been rolled out to individuals across the UK including England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In Scotland, they have the alternative Funeral Support Payment. These payments are there to help those who are unable to afford to do so plan and arrange a funeral.
It is important to understand that these payments are not there to pay for the entire funeral but might be able to contribute towards the basics such as a coffin or a gravestone or burial plot [4].
How to Save on the Cost of a Funeral if You’re Worried
If you are worried about the cost of a funeral, then it is important to understand that you are not alone and that there are a number of things that you can do to bring the cost of either your funeral or a loved one’s funeral down.
Below are just some of the different ways that you can bring the cost of a UK funeral down so that it is affordable for yourself and those around you once you pass away.
1. Consider having a direct cremation with no service
If you are struggling to afford your own funeral or the funeral of a loved one, then you can opt for a direct cremation.
This means that you would not have a service in your memory. Instead, your body would be cremated and either buried or scattered.
2. Organise your own food
Catering can become a huge cost when it comes to a funeral. If you want to save some money, then why not organise your own food.
You can buy some food from your local supermarket and even ask those coming to each bring something small with them to contribute to a buffet.
3. Choose a less expensive coffin
The cost of coffins has increased significantly over recent years, with some people spending thousands upon thousands on the cost of a coffin alone.
You can save on the cost of your funeral significantly by opting for a less expensive coffin. When you first visit your funeral director, they will talk you through the different types of coffins and the associated costs.
4. Pre-paid funeral plans
Opting for a pre-paid funeral plan allows you to pay for the cost of your own funeral in instalments before you pass away. There are now a wide range of pre-paid funeral plans which can cater for a wide range of needs and budgets.
5. Equity release plans
If you would like to put some money away to plan and pay for your funeral, or even a loved one’s funeral but are currently struggling for cash, then you might be able to opt for an equity release loan.
If you are aged 55 or over and own your own property worth at least £70,000 then you might be able to opt for a lifetime mortgage.
By doing so, you can gain access to the cash that is inside your home, without having to sell up or downsize.
You are free to spend the money on anything you want, including the cost of a funeral, should you choose to do so.
You only have to repay the loan once you pass away or move into a care home, when your property will be sold and the proceeds from the sale of the home will pay off the loan, hopefully in full.
This will need to include any added compound interest that has grown and compounded year on year. If there is any shortfall, then the lender will have to pay the difference under the no negative equity guarantee.
If you would like to speak to an equity release adviser, then reach out to a member of the team at Equity Release Warehouse.
Our team of advisers are on hand to provide you with the very best information and will never put any pressure on you to release equity from your home.
If you are worried about the cost of your own funeral or a loved one’s funeral, then speak to a member of the Equity Release Warehouse team for more information.
References
[1] https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/public-health-funerals-2024-research-report
[2] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c9ba55240f0b633f3d4b73c/Funerals_advice_v2.pdf
